A San Diego judge has dismissed a Texas-based ghost gun manufacturer’s anti-SLAPP motion, affirming that California’s lawsuit targets the sale of machines used to create untraceable firearms. The court ruled that the state’s claims focus on the marketing and distribution of the “Coast Runner,” a milling machine that allows users to manufacture ghost guns, rather than infringing on the company’s free speech rights.
California argues that the manufacturer specifically markets to residents seeking to circumvent strict state gun laws, as evidenced by the recovery of almost 13,000 ghost guns involved in crimes in 2022. This ruling marks a significant step in the state’s ongoing effort to regulate firearms that pose threats to public safety, as the judge highlighted that the defendants’ actions are not protected commercial speech under anti-SLAPP statutes.
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